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The Dark is Rising (The Dark is Rising Sequence) Paperback – October 1, 1999
| Susan Cooper (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
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Mass Market Paperback
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Audio CD Library Binding, Unabridged, Audiobook
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$14.9975 Used from $1.25 20 New from $13.35 3 Collectible from $9.90 - Paperback
$7.99129 Used from $0.99 41 New from $3.99 1 Collectible from $19.00 - Mass Market Paperback
$10.9974 Used from $1.00 5 New from $4.99 1 Collectible from $8.00 - Audio CD Library Binding
$23.994 Used from $20.02
Enhance your purchase
- Print length320 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level3 - 7
- Lexile measure920L
- Dimensions5.13 x 0.9 x 7.63 inches
- PublisherMargaret K. McElderry Books
- Publication dateOctober 1, 1999
- ISBN-100689829833
- ISBN-13978-0689829833
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About the Author
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Product details
- Publisher : Margaret K. McElderry Books; Reprint edition (October 1, 1999)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0689829833
- ISBN-13 : 978-0689829833
- Reading age : 10 - 12 years
- Lexile measure : 920L
- Grade level : 3 - 7
- Item Weight : 8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.13 x 0.9 x 7.63 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #65,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Susan Cooper is best known for her acclaimed five-book fantasy sequence "The Dark is Rising," which won a Newbery Medal, a Newbery Honor Award, and two Carnegie Honor Awards. Her newest books are 2 picturebooks: "The Shortest Day" (her classic solstice poem, illustrated by Carson Ellis), and "The Word Pirates," illustrated by Steven Kellogg. Born in England in 1935, Ms Cooper became a reporter and feature writer for the London Sunday Times--her first boss was James Bond creator Ian Fleming--before moving to the United States in 1963. Her first novels were "Mandrake" and the autobiographical "Dawn of Fear," followed by the complete Dark is Rising sequence (Over Sea, Under Stone; The Dark is Rising; Greenwitch; The Grey King; Silver on the Tree). The sequence, deeply rooted in the rich heritage of Arthurian legend and Celtic mythology, is a classic work of children's literature, still in print after 40 years. Cooper went on to write other well-received children's novels, including "Seaward," "The Boggart" trilogy, "Green Boy," "King of Shadows," "Victory," and "Ghost Hawk" as well as several picture books for young readers with illustrators such as Ashley Bryan and Warwick Hutton. She has also written books for adults, as well as plays and Emmy-nominated screenplays (some in collaboration with her second husband, the actor Hume Cronyn). Recent non-fiction includes her biography of Revels founder Jack Langstaff titled "The Magic Maker." Ms. Cooper lives in Marshfield MA. Visit her on Facebook or on her website at www.thelostland.com.
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I am happy to report that, at least for me, this audio version gets high marks across the board.
First, I can hear it and understand it. No mushy sound recording. No odd imbalance in volume that requires you to keep turning the volume up and then down. All of the spoken words are crisp and clear.
Second, there are no sound effects or such folderol.
Third, there is a single reader. This is not a play for voices and is not read by a number of different character actors.
Fourth, Alex Jennings is a marvelously effective reader. His approach is dynamic but not overly dramatic. He is never coy or arch, and does not ham up any of the big scenes. In the first chapters he can be a bit tentative in distinguishing among the major characters and is inclined to give short shrift to minor characters, but after that he settles into the various roles and adds a distinct and recognizable identity to each character.
Finally, the reading is very respectful. By that I mean the book is not read as though it were just some silly children's book. It is treated as the triumphant work that it is and this adds greatly to its weight and impact.
Please note that there are 7 discs. Runtime is a bit under nine hours.
There are five books in this series. I recommend reading them all in order.
"This night will be bad. And tomorrow will be beyond imagining." Susan Cooper is a gifted writer and she sets a mood of foreboding creepiness right from the beginning. While there is an almost constant aura of menace, there is minimal violence, and Will constantly learns lessons of bravery, honor, and the importance of knowledge and learning. Sort of H. P. Lovecraft meets the Hardy Boys.
I agree with some criticism that there is too little struggle and problem solving involved in actually getting the six signs Will needs to find, but the story is still strong and a worthwhile read for middle readers.
Top reviews from other countries
Just before Christmas I wanted to re-read the story, so I dug out my old paperback of the series and found the print was so small I was struggling to read it without hurting my eyes. Time to purchase the Kindle edition and enjoy it on my Paperwhite. Some books are worth buying more than once, and The Dark is Rising is most certainly one of them.
A wonderful coming of age story set at Christmas time in an age before computers and mobile phones. There's an innocence to the characters that some might find off-putting these days, but it's worth it for such an imaginative story. Now I've read this book, I know it won't be long before I will be purchasing the other four as Kindle editions.
Now, the reason it can infect you with fear is because it is written well and with pace, but I would not recommend this book for kids his age for bedtime reading at all. Unless you’re looking for scared kids and sleepless nights that is. I would recommend getting a sample of the book to see whether your kid will tolerate it well first.
A great read for children and adults alike.








